title: Quantitative automated assessment of myocardial perfusion at cardiac catheterization.
abstract: Perfusion assessed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory predicts outcomes after myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to investigate a novel method of assessing perfusion using digital subtraction angiography to generate a time-density curve (TDC) of myocardial blush, incorporating epicardial and myocardial perfusion. Seven pigs underwent temporary occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 60 minutes. Angiography was performed in the same projections before, during, and after occlusion. Perfusion parameters were obtained from the TDC and compared with Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame count and myocardial perfusion grade. In addition, safety and feasibility were tested in 8 patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The contrast density differential between the proximal artery and the myocardium derived from the TDC correlated well with TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (R = 0.54, p <0.001). The arterial transit time derived from the TDC correlated with TIMI frame count (R = 0.435, p = 0.011). Using a cutoff of 2.4, the density/time ratio, a ratio of density differential to transit time, had sensitivity and specificity of 100% for coronary arterial occlusion. The positive and negative predictive values were 100%. The generation of a TDC was safe and feasible in 7 patients after acute myocardial infarctions, but the correlation between TDC-derived parameters and TIMI parameters did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, this novel method of digital subtraction angiography with rapid, automated, quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion in the cardiac catheterization laboratory correlates well with established angiographic measures of perfusion. Further studies to assess the prognostic value of this technique are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. aboyle@medicine.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: Karl H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Schuleri
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lienard
authors.forename: Regis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vaillant
authors.forename: Michael Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zimmet
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazhari
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Centola
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feigenbaum
authors.forename: Joud
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dib
authors.forename: Navin K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kapur
authors.forename: Joshua M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hare
authors.forename: Jon R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Resar
mesh_terms: D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D000818:Animals; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D002932:Cineangiography; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010477:Perfusion / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine; D016896:Treatment Outcome